Learning is an investment.
Do you agree?
Or do you see it as an expense?
I recently asked a Facebook group with over 64k entrepreneur members about the importance of continuous learning. Here’s the response I got.
273 reactions. 182 comments.
These entrepreneurs see the value of learning. Some of them even explained why it’s important not just to their business but also to their own growth. That post blew up! Everyone chimed in “YES.”
YES. Learning allows us to be updated with the ever changing world of entrepreneurship which then allows us to be ahead of others.
YES. Successful business owners are constantly looking for improvement through continuous learning.
YES. Learning does enhance our skills and therefore helps us become better decision-makers in our business.
And the list goes on…
Now, the BIGGER QUESTION is, how can non-stop learning make us unstoppable? The key is the application of that learning.
Consider this. Information without action is like a car without gas. You’ll have a medium to go from Point A to Point B. But without the gas, you can’t move forward.
Remember, knowledge consumption ain’t gonna do the trick. We have to act on it.
I know. Sometimes, we’re not the best action-takers, right? I get it – been there, done that.
Here’s the thing. You definitely don’t want to put your investment (time, money and effort) into waste because knowing is a hell of a lot different than doing.
Here are some practices that will help us implement our new found knowledge and start incorporating them into our routines.
1. Embrace collaboration.
Collaborate with a feedback partner, also known as accountability buddy. Having someone to give you feedback and encourage you to work on your goals is an effective way to ensure that you implement what you’ve learned. It’s also a great way to tackle challenges because you have someone to talk to and give you advice.
2. Stick with your WHY.
Look at the big picture. Be clear on why you’re taking that particular course. Or why you want to attend that event. Or why you’re reading that book. How is it aligned with what your business needs?
Then, once you’re clear how your learning address your business needs, set your goals. Create an action plan that will help you implement your goals using what you’ve learned.
3. Make time to digest the learning.
Learning is not an overnight thing. It does take time. Allot a learning power hour every day. Then, make time to implement what you’ve learned for that day. Find a way to immediately implement the learning.
If the topic is too complex, chunk it down into bite-sized learning. You don’t have to wait until you finish reading the entire book or complete the entire course before taking action. Mini actions give you small wins that prod you to continue.
4. FOCUS.
Focus is an acronym that stands for “Follow One Course Until Successful.”
I learned this from John Lee Dumas and this is one of the key strategies he used to monetize his Podcast, Entrepreneur on Fire, and earn up to $250k per month from it.
Here’s what he said in an interview, “So many people are 80 percent done with 10 different things, which is sad to see. Instead of going a mile wide and an inch deep, it’s important to focus on one project that you can go into a mile deep and just one inch wide.”
What does this mean? Don’t take on multiple courses at once. Focus on a single skill you want to learn. One concept you’d like to master. Do not multitask.
5. Track and Evaluate.
Do an honest self-evaluation. Look at what you have done and track your progress. Use a journal to monitor your actions.
Have you seen results? Is there any difference in your behaviors? Is this difference a result of what you’re learning?
Okay, so we’ve gained knowledge. We took action. What’s next? One word – CONSISTENCY.
According to Seth Godin, “It is significantly easier to cross a gap when you have direction and momentum.”
When we are consistent in taking action, we build momentum. To sustain that momentum, we need to be in constant motion. Because when we lose momentum, we get distracted, stuck and stagnant.
Margot Andersen explained this in her article, The Power of Momentum. She wrote:
“Without it (momentum) we are far more likely to find ourselves distracted and doubting our ability to actually achieve what we set out to do.”
“We can’t actually create momentum if we aren’t ever really finishing anything. It is in the success of delivery, implementation and review that we find new ways to grow and improve and innovate on what we do.”
Makes perfect sense, won’t you agree?
So how do we leverage non-stop learning to become unstoppable in our business?
Never stop learning, apply what we’ve learned and be consistent in taking action to build momentum.
So, here are a few questions I’d love for you to answer and be very clear on.
What are you currently learning today or in the next few weeks?
What will you do to hold yourself accountable in taking consistent action? How will you build momentum and become unstoppable?
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